Bearing for spindles



(No Model WITNEEEEE Q2 l/QJ" f6 @mq l fr J. KILBURN.

BEARING PoR SPINDLBS.

kPatented Sept. 21.1897.

f2 INVENTDR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOI'lN KILBURN, OF BELMON", MASSACHUSETTS.

BEARING FOR SPINDLES.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.V 590,315, dated September 21, 1897'.

Application filed December Y2, 1896. Serial No. 614,251. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KILBURN, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Belmont, in the county of Middlesex'and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bearings for Spindles and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertai ns to make and use the same.

As spindles of the self-centering or toptype are commonly constructed that portion of the spindle below the whirl, or, in the sleevewhirl types, below the point of connection of the whirl and` spindle, usually termed the pintle of spindle', is tapered toward its lower end, and the bolster or tubular support in which such pintle rotates is commonly constructed with inclined interior walls fitted to the taper of the spindle-pintle.

It has been found in practice that as the lower end of the spindle-pintle is worn away by the usual wear of the spindle or wears into its step the tapered spindle-pintle falling Vin the bolster is brought more tightly in contact with the inclined inn er walls thereof, causing the spindle to bind or rotate with increased friction in the bolster.

The object of the present invention is to provide automatic means controlled by the rotation of the spindle whereby an excess of friction between the bolster and spindle produces a change in the relative longitudinal position of the step and bolster which effects a change in the positionof the spindle in the bolster to diminish such friction, said bolster and step being thereafter retained in their adjusted position.

The present invention has for its further object to increase the durability and eiciency i of the devices forming the spindle-support.

To the above ends the present invention consists of the several devices and combina# tions of devices hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

A preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Y Figure l is a vertical sectionV through a spindle-support embodying t-he same, show-` ing a portion of the spindle and other parts in elevation. Fig. 2 is a side view of what I have herein term ed the pintle-sleeve, showing the connection of the clutch members therewith. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view of the upper clutch member, and Fig. 4 is a plan View of the lower clutch member.

Similar letters of reference refer t0 similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, Arepresents the lower porv tion of a spindle, shown ashaving a sleevewhirl B and the usual tapered pintle a..

C represents the bolster, shown as surrounded with the usual wicking or other elastic packing c. Y

D represents the bolster-case, and E the spindle-rail.

Allof the above-named parts, except as hereinafter specified, may be of any usual or convenient form, 4and are shown merely to illustrate a convenient and practical application of the present invention.

In the form of my invention shown in the drawings the .pintle ce of the spindle 'A rests upon the top of a pintle F, which carries the step.

The pintle F is supported by what I have hereinv termed a pintle-sleeve f, which, as shown, carries the upper clutch member f and rests uponV the lower clutch member f2, which preferably rests upon the bottom of the bolster-case D.

The lower portion f3 of the bore of the pinile-sleeve f is threaded and is engaged by the threaded portion f4 of the pintle F. The upper portion f5 ofthe pintle F is cylindrical and fitted to the bore of the sleeve f and projects above said sleeve into the bore of the bolster C. The lower portion f6 of the pintle F is p olygonal in section (or of any convenient shape other than circular) and projects from the bore of the sleeve f through the lower clutch member f2 into a recess f7 in the bottom of the bolster-caseD. The recess f7 is similar in shape in section to the lower portion f6 of the pintle F, which is free to reciprocate therein, but is held from rotation by its engagement therewith.

The sleeve f is Vconnected with a clutch mechanism suitably formed and arranged to permit a rotation in one direction when suffi- IOO cient power is applied, as hereinafter explained, and to restrain the sleeve f from roy tation in an opposite direction.

As shown in the drawings, the clutch mechanism above referred to consists of a series of teeth of unequal pitch preferably beveled upon one side and perpendicular upon the other, (see Fig. 2,) which are preferably projected from the bott-omv of the sleeve f, and which form the upper clutch member f.

The lower clutch member f2 may conveniently consist of a washer having a polygonal aperture d in its center through which the lower portion f of the pintle F extends, the washer being held from rotation by its engagement with the polygonal portion of the pintle F. The washer forming the lower clutch member f2 rests upon the bottom of the bolster-case D, and upon its upper surface are formed teeth, which may be rectangular, as

shown, or oppositelybeveledto the teeth upon sleeve f.

It will be noted from the foregoing that a rotation of the sleeve f in one direction by means of the threads f3 and f4 raises the pintle F and causes the step which is the top of said pintle to'rise in the bolster C, and the arrangement of the teeth in the clutch members f and f2 is such that the clutch permits a rotation of the sleeve f in the direction above designated, the teeth on the upper member f turning over those on the lower member f2, but when the rotation of the sleevef is attempted to be reversed the teeth upon the upper member j" engage the teeth upon the lower member f2, and since the lower member f2 is restrained from rotation such engagement restrains the sleeve f from rotation.

The bolster Cis connected with the pintlesleeve f, so as to rotate therewith and to be capable of a slight lateral movement independently thereof to allow the spindle A to center itself under an unbalanced load. As shown in the drawings, such connection is se'- cured as follows: ln the bottom of the bolster C is formed a recess C', which receives a boss f8, which is projected from the top of the sleeve f. The boss f8 is loosely itted to the recess C', and in the boss f8 are formed the holesfg, which are loosely engaged by the pins C2, driven tightly through apertures in the walls of the bolster C, the arrangement being such that the bolster C turns with the sleeve f, but has sufficient lateral play to allow the spindle to center itself under an unbalanced load. I may say in this connection that in assembling the parts of my invention as hereinbefore described I find it convenient in practice to iirst drop the lower clutch member f2 into the spindle-caseD and then unite thebolster C with the sleeve f and pintle F and drop such connected parts into the case D, when the lower end of the pintle F will fall through the lower clutch member f2 into the recess f7, and the device will be in position foroperation.

The operation of my invention as applied to the device of the drawings is as follows: The spindle A being driven in the direction indicated by the arrow-head in Fig. l, when the bottom of its pintle a, which rests upon the step, becomes worn or wears into the step the spindle A will fall in the bolster C and its tapered pintle a will wedge itself more tightly between the inclined walls of the bolster C and the spindle A will rotate with increased friction in the bolster C. lVhen the friction developed as above stated is suficient to raise the weight of the spindle A, bolster C, pintle F, and its sleeve f, it will cause the sleeve f to rotate, the teeth in the upper clutch member f" turning over those in the lower clutch member f2 and by means of the threads f3 and f* raise the pintle Fand cause the step formed upon the top of the pintle F to rise in the bolster C, which will raise the tapered pintle c of the spindle Ain the bolster C, and less friction will be developed by the rotation of the spindleA. When the friction developed by the rotation of the spindle A is so far decreased that the eort exerted to rotate the sleeve fis not suicient to overcome the weight of the supported parts, as before stated, the teeth in the upper clutch member f will fall into the next adjacent spaces between the teeth in the lower clutch member f2, and the spindle A will continue to rotate, resting upon the step in its adj usted position until it has worn away or worn into the step suiciently to cause a repetition of the operation hereinbefore described.

In case that the band should accidentally be adjusted upon the whirl B to rotate the spindle A in an opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow-head in Fig. l the engagement of the clutch members f and f2 positively holds the sleeve f from rotation and prevents a depression of the pintle F, which would cause the spindle A to drop in the bolster C and would be liable to lead to excessive strain or injury to the device.

The device may, if desired, be arranged-for the rotation of the spindle Ain an opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow-head in Fig. 1, it merely being necessary to change the threads f3 and f4 to left-hand threads and to reverse thel inclination of the teeth upon the upper clutch member f.

lVhenit is desired to lower the step to adapt the device to a spindle with a longer pintle, as when a worn spindle is replaced by a new one, the operator by means of the usualv 4Ico IIO

instrument for adjusting holstersV or by any convenient or suitable means raises the bolster C until the teeth upon the upper clutch member f' clear the teeth on the lower clutch member f2, and then by rotating the bolster C turns the sleeve f until the pintle F, the top which forms the step, has been sulciently depressed.

Having thus described my invention and its mode of operation, Il desire to say that I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed in the art to provide a threaded step which loosely engages interior threads in the lower end of the bolster, so that a rotation of the bolster lowers the bolster upon the step, and to connect the bolster and step by a resilient connectionas, for example, a coiled spring-but such device differs essentially from the present invention in that no means is provided whereby when the bolster and step are adjusted as above stated they are held in their adjusted positions; but on the contrary the spring above referred to exercises a constant effort to return the bolster and step to their original position and to increase the friction between the bolster and spindle.

I therefore claim as broadly novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States* l. The combination with a spindle, ils bol* ster and step, of means actuated by an in'- crease of the friction developed between the spindle and its bolster, acting to adjust the relative longitudinal position of the bolster and step, and mechanism independent of the adjusting means to retain the bolster and step in their adjusted position, substantially7 as described.

2. The combination with a spindle, its bolster and step, of automatic means for changing the relative longitudinal position of the bolster and step, and mechanism independent of the adjusting means controlled by the weight of supported parts for retaining the bolster and its step in their adjusted position, substantially as described.

The combination with a spindle, its bolster and step, of automatic means for efecting a relative movement of the step and bolster to raise the step relatively to the bolster, independent mechanism controlled by the weight of the supported parts to retain the bolster and step in their adjusted position, and actuated by a rotation of the bolster under the control of the operator for lowering the step relatively to the bolster, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the bolster and its support, of a threaded bearing in the support, a threaded pintle engaging said bearing, and connections between said bolster and its support, wherebya rotation of the bolster effccts a longitudinal movement of the pintle within the support,substantially as described.4

`5. The combination with abolster, and its support, of a movable pintle in the support, a recess formed in the base of the bolster, a boss formed on the top of the support, loosely fitted to said recess, and a loose pin connection between said boss and the bolster, substantially as described.

G. The combination with a bolster, of a support therefor arranged to rotate therewith, and a clutch mechanism connected with said support arranged to permit its rotation in one direction and to restrain its rotationl in an opposite direction,substantially as described.

7. The combination with a bolster and a bolster-support upon which the lower end of the bolster rests, of a pintle arranged to reciprocate in the support, and connections between the support and pintle, whereby a rotation of the support effects a longitudinal movement of the pintle, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a bolster and its case, of a pintle-sleeve below the bolster, a threaded bearing in said sleeve, a threaded pintle engaging said bearing and capable of longitudinal movement in the sleeve, and-a recess in the bolster-case engaged by the lower portion of said pintle, arranged to restrain the pintle from rotation, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a spindle, its bolster and case, of a pintle supporting the spindie, a sleeve surrounding the pintle and free to turn thereon and a recess in the bottom of the bolstercase engaging the pintle and restraining it from rotation, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a bolster and a bolster-support upon which the lower end of the bolster rests, of a step-bearin g pintle movable in said support, means to restrain the pintle from rotation, and means to rotate the support to impart a longitudinal movement to the pintle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KILBURN.

Vitnesses:

A. E. WHYTE, A. O. ORNE.

IOO 

